Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on children with acute paraquat poisoning that were admitted to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital during a period of 10 years (2000-2010). Of the 193 paraquat poisoning patients, only 6 were children. RESULTS: The mean age was 8.85 ± 5.55 (1-15.6) years. Younger patients had accidentally swallowed paraquat, whereas older patients had intentionally ingested paraquat. Most patients were referred within a relatively short period (0.5-2.0 hours). Paraquat poisoning was associated with high morbidity and often resulted in severe complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple-organ failure. The complications included shock (50.0%), hypoxemia (33.3%), respiratory failure (33.3%), nausea/ vomiting (16.7%), abdominal pain (33.3%), hepatitis (66.7%), gastrointestinal tract bleeding (33.3%), acute renal failure (33.3%), and seizures (16.7%). Patients were treated aggressively with a standard detoxification protocol consisting of gastric lavage, active charcoal, charcoal hemoperfusion, and cyclophosphamide and steroid pulse therapies. Secondary bacterial infections were common after hospitalization and included sepsis (33.3%), pneumonia (33.3%), and urinary tract infection (50.0%). In the end, 2 patients (33.3%) died from multiple-organ failure, despite intensive resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data (mortality rate, 33.3%) are comparable to the data of other published reports from other international poison centers. Evidently, a prompt diagnosis of paraquat poisoning and an immediate institution of a detoxification protocol is a prerequisite for a favorable outcome.
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Authors | Yi-Wen Hsieh, Ja-Liang Lin, Shen-Yang Lee, Cheng-Hao Weng, Huang-Yu Yang, Shou-Hsuan Liu, I-Kuan Wang, Chih-Chia Liang, Chiz-Tzung Chang, Tzung-Hai Yen |
Journal | Pediatric emergency care
(Pediatr Emerg Care)
Vol. 29
Issue 4
Pg. 487-91
(Apr 2013)
ISSN: 1535-1815 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23528512
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Environmental Exposure
(adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
- Female
- Humans
- Infant
- Male
- Paraquat
(poisoning)
- Retrospective Studies
- Taiwan
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